Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

West Cumberland County


We took a ride west of Crossville on the Cumberland Plateau on Sunday afternoon, August 1st. But--since we left on our big trip that week, I didn't get a chance to publish these pictures...

The terrain is a little flatter in that area than it is near us. Above is a picture of one of the many fields (since there is quite a bit of farming there) --and that gorgeous blue sky with the puffy clouds... I will say that it was another hot and steamy day though!!!! Below are more pictures.




Here's one the little roads where we stopped --in order to get some pictures.




Doesn't this little creek look inviting on a hot, summer day???? There was nobody around to take advantage of that cool water though!!!





There were many barns and farms in this area..





On our little rides, I always seem to pick out a special home to show... This huge house and all of the land around it was pretty... (The house is as big on the right side --behind the trees, as it is on the left side.) BUT--wouldn't you think they'd pave their driveway????? Geeeessssshhhhh... ha ha





This is part of the 'grounds' around that huge home. Aren't they gorgeous????

Hope you enjoyed going on our little ride with us to Western Cumberland County. We'll take some more rides soon --but maybe not on Sundays (since FOOTBALL begins)... ha ha



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I just had to show you this unique and gorgeous Grandiflora Rose (named Peppermint Splash) sitting on the table in our home. This is a new rose for us this year ---and I picked it out simply because of its uniqueness. Isn't it pretty????

Have a wonderful Tuesday.
Hugs,

58 comments:

Darla said...

Nice outing, I personally like the gravel drive..

Jane said...

Good morning Betsy - I don't think that I would want to mow the yard in front of that house!

Jane

Peggy said...

Saw the title and thought you had been down here and not stopped in LOL. I live on the Cumberland and Hoke County line in NC. Love that home and of course all your beautiful photos. Enjoy your day!

Neal said...

Very nice. I especially like the long driveway up to the home.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Beautiful countryside!

Catherine said...

I love the photo of the house and the long driveway! I don't know ~ I think I like it better unpaved ~ it makes it look more 'ranch-ish'!

Have a Happy Tuesday Betsy!
xo Catherine

Arkansas Patti said...

That is a beautiful home and grounds. I would have kept a gravel drive also. It fits the "country" look.
That road you stopped on looks like a great walking road.

June said...

I.
Love.
That.
House.

Of course, it's funny the different things people think of when they look at real estate. I saw the driveway and thought, "Oh boy, think of plowing snow off that thing!" but I'm guessin' that isn't a frequent problem there... ;-P

Jo said...

I've been a bit "absent" from visiting blogs, Betsy, please forgive me! Thanks for your kind comment and well-wishes for Shadow. He is doing fine today, only very sleepy and not eating too much. Wow, I love this farming area you took us along on. Thanks. It's all so clear and bright and the farmhouse gardens are BEAUTIFUL - like a park. And what a beautiful Rose. George sure knows his flowers. Bless you both. (((Hugs))) Jo

linda m said...

What a beautiful area. Love the house and "yard". The long unpaved driveway makes the place look so rural and southern. Now if you have to shovel snow I would say either lose the long drive or pave it. LOL Anyway thanks for sharing.

From the Old InkWell said...

Hi Betsy, when our girls were small we used to camp at Cumberland Mountain in Crossville - beautiful place! Enjoyed your pics and that driveway, well, poor folks just can't afford to pave it! LOL!

Tabor said...

We sure do have a beautiful country to live in, don't we?

Dorothy said...

Nice outing! Beautiful scenery. Hey Betsy, don't knock the driveway, it looks a lot like ours!
When they are very long, it's too expensive to pave them (in our case).

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your drive. I like that the barns were full of hay! The new rose is a beauty - you did good choosing it for its uniqueness.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oh we love little country roads, like that! One where you can stop and take a picture. Or even must "mosey along," nice and slow.

But around here, they are only a memory. Seems no matter what country road we go on now, someone is always coming up behind us and *urging* us to speed up or get out of their way. -sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh-

Anonymous said...

The beauty of the Tennessee countryside is what brought us here from Texas. It's so green and hilly. I love the coloring of the rose. :)

Ginny Hartzler said...

Love your trip pictures, especially the ponds! The rose is one I haven't seen before. Because of it's multi colores streaks, I may not even have recognized it as a rose, but I love the name!

Susie said...

That rose is a beauty!

I love country rides like ya'll took. Looks like you had a wonderful time exploring.

MadSnapper said...

marvelous flower and really quite GRAND. I like that first photo and was going to ask you to show the shed that is shwoing in the corner of the first photo, then i found it a few photos down. i love old buildings as much as beautiful scenery and both in one photo is perfect.

Mary said...

That rose is gorgeous and I can see why you wanted that one...unique and beautiful both. Lovely driving with you :-) Great views. That house...that's a lot of driveway to pave $$$! We are the only house on our road with a gravel drive...and I kind of like it actually. I can toss seed out there for the birds among the gravel :-)

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

That is the perfect name for that gorgeous rose, it actually looks like peppermint candy!!! Gorgeous photos but I can feel the heat from them!!!
Have a wonderful week Betsy!!!

Harriet said...

Love the house. The gravel driveway just makes it look more country. We had a gravel driveway when I was growing up (not that long) you always knew when someone pulled in the driveway because you could hear the tires on the gravel.

LV said...

Next time you take a trip let me know. I am going hide in the trunk so I can enjoy some of these beautiful places. The type trips you take are the best kind. We have so much to see here in our own country. Another breathtaking rose.

Fred Alton said...

Yes Betsy, the Peppermint Splash is beautiful. Might try it next year if it can be found around our area.

All the pictures of West Cumberland county are great but the outstanding one for me is the huge home with the gravel drive. Looks like someone loves the country - but loves the modern conveniences too.

Tipper said...

Love the rose-the house-and the barns! Great post : )

Diane AZ said...

Hi Betsy, The sky sure was beautiful for your drive in the country and the creek looks so refreshing. I love your new Peppermint Splash rose!

Busy Bee Suz said...

The sky is just so darn BLUE and beautiful!!!!!
What a sweet rose. Have a great day Betsy!

Sunny said...

Such a pretty area, it looks so peaceful.
Judging by the length of that driveway, I imagine paving it would cost a pretty penny!
Your rose is gorgeous, I've never seen that kind before - thanks for sharing :)
☼ Sunny

Rose said...

good morning. you gave me a good start of the day with your photos. I love the beauty of the sky and creek. thanks. rose

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Your rose is sooooo beautiful!!!!

The Retired One said...

I love the photo of that tranquil creek the best, it is wonderful and inviting!

Barbara said...

Just Gorgeous love that home it is a nice one, hugs Barbara

ruthinian said...

Love the house. I love the huge sprawling lawn even the unpaved road... it has a certain character about it. It must have been a pain to plow in wintertime though. LOL.

I Am Woody said...

:) I think I know the reason for the unpaved drive. Probably the same reason we plan to leave ours unpaved when we build in the country. A paved drive that connects to the county road throws you into a different property tax category. Taxes are significantly less if the paved part is just up by the house and not connected to the road. Ahh, government!?!

Small City Scenes said...

I, for one, wouldn't pave the driveway. That is one of the things that make it look countryish. and then you have run-off. Nice dirt just soaks up excess water. We live on a dirt road and our drive is unpaved too. When Dave was in the wheelchair I though about getting the driveway and in front of the house paved but I am glad I didn't.
Too much pavement in this world.
All your pics are wonderful. I do love the sky and cloud shots.

The rose is a beauty---does it smell peppermintish?? LOL
MB

Elizabeth said...

Stunning rose, you picked a beauty!! Thanks for taking us along on your little road trip...the country is made for photos, isn't it?! I love how you and George stop to take in the scenery...rushing brook, grey farm buildings, WOW kinda house (!). Miss P is a great little car.

amelia said...

Our driveway is gravel because the deep freeze lifts the tarmac. Every spring here the roads are lifted and full of potholes because the ice gets under the paving and lifts it.

I don't imagine they'd have this problem here though!!

The rose is very aptly named, just perfect!!

Glenda said...

Love the rose - peppermint splash is the perfect name! Enjoyed the ride and seeing the beautiful countryside!

nanny said...

Another great drive!!! Love the little road......

Cheryl @ TFD said...

From the beautiful blue sky to the gorgeous rose, they are all delightful! Thanks for sharing.
~Cheryl

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

I do hope I get to ride along with you again soon.I love seeing the countryside.Much of it looks like southern Manitoba,only greener.We are having very strong winds today.
Blessings,Ruth

Snap said...

The little creek is calling my name!!!!! Lovely post, Betsy.

From the Kitchen said...

I loved those Sunday afternoon rides of my childhood. We don't do that. Well, we do ride to places in Chicago but it is not a leisurely amble through the countryside. It is bumper-to-bumper freeway rides. Once one is off the freeway, the streets of Chicago aren't so bad--especially in the tree-lined neighborhoods. And the small neighborhood restaurants are delightful. Alas, there are no mountains, babbling brooks or huge homes with gravel drives (what is that driveway all about anyway?) = )

Best,
Bonnie

imac said...

You sure get around Betsy and take wonderful shots.

Mister Bean said...

Hi Betsy!
I discovered your blog last week and I'm really enjoying getting to know you and George. We live not too far away from you, in Soddy Daisy (ever heard of it?) and our favorite place to go (and camp) is Fall Creek Falls!!

Shelia

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Shelia, Yes---I know where Soddy Daisy is... My son lives in Brainard... Thanks for coming to my blog. Send me your email so that I can answer your comments. Mine is betsyadams@mac.com.. Thanks!
Hugs,
Betsy

Kay said...

I love the photos of the bright blue sky. Just beautiful.

Deb from WhatsInMyAttic said...

Absolutely beautiful rose! I've never seen anything like it.

They could probably build another building on their property for the cost of paving that distance shown in the picture! lol

Diane said...

Gorgeous rose Betsy. I just keep thinking if we lived in a house like that we'd go crazy. We have enough trouble yelling from room to room in this little house! Diane

Connie said...

Lovely pictures, Betsy! Because of where I live, I see a driveway like that, and all I think is, I wouldn't want to have to shovel a foot of snow out of that!! HA! :)

CottonLady said...

Oh, I can just smell that 'Peppermint Splash' rose! It's gorgeous. Love the picturelog of your travels. I would be dangling my feet in that little stream on that hot day!

Blessings!
CottonLady

Anonymous said...

What beautiful photos. It rarely looks that nice in Southern California.

Carletta said...

The blue skies are so gorgeous!
Such lovely landscape pics.
A long nice paved driveway would be nice but I have to take into consideration the cost of having that done and that's why ours is gravel. :)
And what a beautiful rose!

NENSA MOON said...

What a beautiful countryside! and the Grandiflora Rose...really gorgeous!!

have a blessed day, Betsy!
hugs,
nensa

SquirrelQueen said...

You do have some gorgeous country roads over your way Betsy. I love seeing the barns and that great house. I kind of like the gravel road too.

Peppermint Splash is a great name for that rose. The coloring is so pretty.

Pat Tillett said...

beautiful photos Betsy. I want to take my shoes off and gingerly step into that little stream...

KathyA said...

I just love being included in your travels. How wonderful it is that you and George can stop and really enjoy all the beauty around you...

GreatGranny said...

Beautiful rose. The long driveway is probably kept up with gravel, but yes pavement would make travel on it better in bad weather, I'm sure.